Do you know that the ‘average’ woman spends about $600 a year on skin care and color cosmetics, according to the beauty industry? Whether she uses only cleansers and lotions or has an array of beauty products, shopping can be time-consuming and expensive. So, here are some quick tips on how to make the most of your beauty budget.

Part of the ’secret’ is to insist on quality for those items that matter … and the most important items are those that help you care for your skin. Look to see if the product line includes the following steps: cleansing, exfoliating, refining or toning and moisturizing. Then review the ingredients for compatability with your individual skin type and sensitivities. If you’re not sure how your skin will react, ask for samples and test them on your forearm.

Quality isn’t necessarily costly though you may spend a little more to find a product line that is the most effective for you. Conversely, expensive isn’t necessarily the best choice. Very high-priced product lines typically contain rare substances that may or may not work for you. Unless you are already using optimum products for your skin, you should notice a difference within two weeks to a month of starting a new regime. Your skin should appear clearer, smoother and well-moisturized.

After skin care, the right foundation or powder and concealer are important beauty buys. Depending upon the amount of coverage you want, select a foundation, creme to powder foundation, dual coverage powder foundation, pressed or loose powder and concealer that blend as closely as possible with your face. (With foundation, test the shade along your jaw line to compare the color with both your face and neck; watch to see if it “disappears” into your skin.)

Another part of the ’secret’ to making the most of your beauty budget is spending less on color products that change with the seasons such as eye shadows, blushes and lipsticks. Most product lines will offer the lastest "hot" colors, which tend to be similar, so comparison shop. Another idea is to accumulate a palette of primary eye colors which can be mixed to create your own "hot" colors.

There’s no need to spend too much to look your best!

© Copyright 2005. Charlotte Maddox. All rights reserved.

Charlotte is an experienced independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc.

Register on Charlotte’s Mary Kay Inc. web site to receive a monthly email newsletter, Beaut-e-News(tm), with tips & techniques and a seasonal mailing of the "The Look" catalog with free samples plus the latest in skin care and color looks (complete privacy ensured).

http://www.marykay.com/charlottemaddox

For those of you who are do-it-yourself fanatics like I am, our hands are always getting rough treatment. Between gardening, cleaning, painting and puttering around they get exposed to a lot. What can we do to make sure they don’t look like they’ve through a boxing match without gloves? Gentle care is the key. Wear gloves whenever possible so your hands aren’t exposed to cleaning products, dirt and paint. Now that I’ve said that, I’ll admit this is a hard one to do 100% of the time, but do try.

Hand cream is another must have for your hands. Keep it in the bathroom, the bedroom and the kitchen. Use it!

Take care of your nails too. This starts with drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet. But here are a few more tips:

NEVER cut your cuticles. Keep them from drying out by using a good hand cream and hand soaks, then push them gently back with a cuticle/orange stick. Once you do this if you notice any white residue you can gently rub the area to remove this, but no cutting.

When you do cut your nails or hang nails make sure the clippers and other tools are very sharp so they don’t tear as you trim. Always trim neat and clean-not too deep. Once you get them cut, try filing weekly instead of cutting. Use the file in one direction to avoid splitting and use a good quality file. If you maintain your nails this way you may not have cut them. Use gentle hand treatments to soften your skin and your cuticles. Here are a few you can make yourself:

Rosewater Hand Massage

You’ll need:

1 tsp. glycerin
1 tsp. lemon juice
5 drops rose water
Mix together and keep in a small bottle. Use to massage your hands for 15-30 minutes. Don’t forget the cuticles!

Nail Soak

You’ll need:

1 cup bottled water
juice of one lemon
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
10 drops lemon essential oil
Mix all together and use as a finger soak for about ten minutes on each hand.

Nail Manicure Treatment

You’ll need:

1 Tbsp. distilled water, slightly warmed
1 Tbsp. witch hazel
1 1/2 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. alum powder
Mix above in a glass bowl. Soak nails for 10-15 minutes, occasionally massaging cuticles gently. Rinse with cool water. Use for both hands, then discard.

Some more articles about hand and nail care:
Sexy, Beautiful Hands
Women’s Blog - All Women’s Talk Hand & Nail Care

Cracked Heels

Without doubt, your feet are the most active part of your body, even more than your hands. In fact most of the time they are definitely overworked. Especially in today’s day and age, the big metros are so widespread that one has to cover long distances to get from one place to the next be it for job or other work. Therefore it is very much essential that one must take extra care of their feet in order to avoid having foot problems.

Cracking and fissures in the skin of the heels and the balls of the feet can be painful, especially for heavy individuals who place more pressure on these parts. As with any open skin lesion, a fissure leaves the region susceptible to bacteria. Foot infections can be very serious because bacteria tend to multiply rapidly and travel deep into the foot quickly because of the continuous pressure. They are often hard to heal because the wound is surrounded by calloused skin.

Tips to Avoid Cracked Heels:

# Do not expose your feet to extreme climate i.e., extreme cold or extreme heat.

# Wash feet daily in lukewarm water, blot dry without rubbing and apply a urea-based cream.

# If your heels are very dry, use a pumice stone to slough off dry skin, cover feet with petroleum jelly and put a pair of socks before going to bed.

# Pedicure your feet more often.

# Use hot-cold water technique. Dip your feet in hot water and then after five minutes dip it in cold water. Do this for 20 minutes. This method improves the blood circulation.

# Choose your shoes carefully and pick only the best quality.

# Before going to bed daily pamper your feet with a rich moisturising cream.

Women-links – beauty tips, make up tips, fragrances, hair styles

Women’s Blog - All Women’s Talk
Common Foot Problems
Foot Care: Tips to Avoid Cracked Heels

There are some great new looks out this fall and holiday season. If you’re planning on going out, you’re probably looking for a new or different look. I’ve compiled several of my favorite styles for this season to help you choose the one that will best fit your situation and needs.

Focus On The Lips

This look is all about your lips. Whether you use a bright jeweled lip color or a matte frost, remember to use a gemstone color. They’re hot this season. Amethyst, ruby, gold, garnet, plum, etc. are all great colors. Try to use a color a few shades darker than your usual lip color.

Don’t do much else but add mascara to your top lashes only. This look is complimented by loads of mascara. You can also add a neutral color to the crease of your eyelid. (The crease of the eyelid is becoming a popular style.)

Line It Up

Do you love eyeliner? Looking for something new and exotic? This is the holiday make up tip for you. It’s all about eyeliner.

Using a dark eyeliner pencil, lightly trace where you want your liner on both the top and bottom lids. Then take black eyeshadow and mix it with a little hydrosol, water, visine, etc. Using a thin eyeliner brush, dip it in your creamy eyeshadow mixture and trace over the eyeliner pencil line. Keep your line very thin. You’ll find it’s easier to trace over the line than to do it freehand.

Now for the fun part. You’ll see a space where your top and bottom lashes meet. Place your eyeliner brush there and draw it outwards. Make a curve as you pull it away. You’ll get a “cat eye” look and your line will go from thick to thin. You’ll get perfect placement every time.

Then add some baby pink blush just to the apples of your cheeks. Using a brush the same size of the apples of your cheeks works best. Smile and place your brush against your apple. Does it look too big, too small or just right? You’ll be able to tell when you’ve got it right. Tap the excess blush off and tap it onto the apples of your cheeks. It’s easier if you’re smiling while you do this. Dust your brush off on a piece of tissue then gently blend the blush back towards your ear a bit.

For your lips, avoid the gloss. Use a matte or a matte frost in the now popular color of pink with tan undertones.

The Red Lip

Yes, the red lip is back in vogue. And you can wear this awesome look too. It’s red and it’s matte and it’s gorgeous. You can go two ways with this look.

1. Red matte lips and nothing else.

2. Red matte lips and exotic eyes.

For lipstick try a blue-red. It’ll make your teeth look whiter compared to an orange or brown red. Berry colors are usually a winning color.

For the eyes, you’ll have a smudgey look using either jewel tones or matte. Remember not to mix them! One or the other. Apply vibrant gold, copper, chestnut or bronze over the entire eyelid and smudge it below the eye. Don’t use black, gray or charcoal for this look. Use a rich dark brown eyeliner (no black!) and draw a thin line on the top and bottom lashes and if you like, line inside the eye. Then smudge the eyeliner so it’s still a visible line, but smudgey.

No blush for this look.

And there you go! You’ve got three of this season’s hottest styles to help you look your very best for all those holiday parties. Look and feel your best this season by not forgetting to take time for yourself this month. A little pampering can help ease the holiday stress.

Lynn Starner is the proprietor of Beauty Bliss Mineral Cosmetics at http://www.beautyblisscosmetics.com as well as http://www.ultimate-skin-care-tips.com.

Looking your best is easy with these simple cosmetics tips!

Keep your cosmetics fresh

Makeup does have an expiry date! It might not be written on the packaging, but there will come a time when your cosmetics won’t be as vibrant, smooth or nice to wear as they used to be. Not only is it a good sign that you’re possibly in the wrong season, it’s also important if you want to be looking your best! Keep your makeup rotated every 6 months or so.

Make sure you’re wearing the right cosmetics for your skin tone

The tragic flaw many people make when buying cosmetics is not matching them to their skin tone. This makes it almost impossible when trying to find the right foundation and concealer, but it also affects the lipstick and eye shadow you should be wearing. There are ways to determine skin tone, and you should base your cosmetics selections around the right tone:

Ruddy skin tone is associated with burning easily, but also with becoming easily flushed or pink-cheeked.

Yellow skin tones respond poorly to yellowish foundation and concealer and make the skin look more flawed than it did before.

Yellow-olive skin tone is easily identified because it’s mainly found in people who tan easily and don’t burn often. So if you come in from the beach a shade other than bright red, yellow-olive is you!

Olive skin tones are slightly gray or ashen, do not burn easily and have greenish undertones.

Neutral skin tone has no obvious yellow, olive or ruddy tones, nor any features of these skin tones.

Cosmetics counter assistants will be able to assist you in determining your skin tone, and also offer you the best options for cosmetics and colors. Similarly, you will find great tips just by looking through fashion magazines: ruddy skin responds well to earthy colors such as browns, greens, corals and reds; medium yellow and ruddy skin tones go well with both light and dark browns; darker olive skin looks great in more vibrant shades of ruby and cherry; and dark skin tones love more natural, soft pinks, corals and browns.

Wearing the ‘wrong’ cosmetics for your skin tone can result in you looking washed out, accentuating blemishes and otherwise causing flawed skin.

Learn to apply your cosmetics properly

Make sure you don’t look like a … well, clown … after you put your makeup on in the morning. Most of us learn how to put on our faces from our friends in junior high or our mothers, and that’s all well and good until we have to go to an important business meeting and we realize we actually don’t know how to apply eyeliner!

Many makeup artists will actually visit you in your own home or as part of a cosmetics party and teach you how to do it properly, or you can visit a cosmetics counter and have them take you through the process. There’s more to a great look than just throwing your makeup on, but there are simple and easy tricks that will have you looking gorgeous in no time!

Foundation: don’t forget to blend foundation into your neck, or you’ll end up with an unsightly line around your jaw; apply concealer after foundation!

Eye shadow: apply your base color from the inside out, then define your eyes with a darker shade in the crease of your eyelid; for extra definition, use a light shadow on your brow bone.

Eye liner: steady your hand by resting on a flat surface, and always apply from the inside to the outside of your eye; extending the liner beyond the end of your eyelids will give a great exotic look!

Mascara: two layers is best; apply the first layer downwards from the roots, then again upwards from the midway point of the lashes; apply a finer layer to the bottom lashes so you don’t look like a panda, then leave for a couple of minutes and repeat.

Lipstick: the way you apply your lipstick depends on the shape of your mouth, but make sure your lip liner (if you use one) matches the color of your lipstick, use a base or primer, apply color with a lip brush and remember to blot; finish off with an application of lip gloss for perfectly luscious lips.

Accentuate your best features, improve the rest.

Barb S - your personal beauty expert. See our name brand salon hair products makeup and cosmetics at http://www.Stuff4Beauty.Com

General Make up Tips:

Choose your eye make up to fit your lifestyle or the event you are attending. Wear less during the day and a little more for night time. Most people look better in softer, neutral colors, rather than dark, harsh tones. In general, lighter colors make the eyes appear larger, while darker colors can make them look small. Dark colors don’t look good if you have fair skin. Eye shadow comes in both powder and cream formulas. Creams generally give a bolder color than powders. These must be applied carefully to avoid creasing. Apply foundation and powder first and then eye shadow.

Select a foundation that matches your skin tone and is appropriate for your skin type. If you tend to break out, look for oil free, non comedogenic cosmetics. Apply moisturizer before your foundation for a smoother look. Use a sponge and apply foundation in a downward motion from the forehead down to the chin. If you have blemishes or dark circles, apply concealer after the foundation. Brush on loose powder to set. Apply powder using a large brush in the same downward motion.

Choose a blusher that is suited to your skin tone. Choose lighter colors for a fair complexion and darker tones for dark or tanned skin. Place two fingers to the side of your nose. Start your application at the second finger and move up toward the ear line. Smile to show the apples of your cheeks and help with application.

Lipstick should also match your skin tone. Use a lip moisturizer regularly to keep your lips smooth and moist. Apply foundation and powder before lip cosmetics. Line the lips with a pencil and then apply lipstick. Use a lip brush for best coverage. Blot the color with a tissue and re apply for best results.

Mascara is available in a variety of formulas: waterproof, thickening and smudge proof. Choose a color that is appropriate for your skin type. Curl the lashes first and then begin to apply mascara. Look up and apply in an upward motion. Reapply is small amounts to avoid clumping. Don’t pump the brush into the container, as this will break the bristles on the brush and shorten the life of this product.

Caring for Make up Tips:

• Replace your cosmetics as products expire. Blush and powder can be kept for 2 years. Foundation, lipstick and eyeshadow should be replaced every year. Mascara has the shortest shelf life and should be thrown away after 2 months.

Select high quality make up, especially if you are prone to acne. Natural products that don’t contain a lot of chemicals, dyes and perfumes are best for all skin, but especially acne prone. The ingredients in many cosmetics irritate acne prone skin. Mineral make up is an excellent choice, as it contains no chemicals or any ingredients that can irritate the skin.

Proper skin care is essential. Always remove your make up before going to bed. Wash the skin with a mild cleanser made for your skin type and moisturize the skin. Good skin care can help prevent cosmetics from clogging your pores. If this happens, consider an occasional facial peel to unclog the pores and treat acne. Esthetician’s Choice is an excellent peel. Originally only available through dermatologists or salons, it is now available for home use. Visit www.bestskinpeel.com for more information on this amazing product and to order.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

If you are ready for beauty to be made simple these quick easy beauty tips are for you. Used by some of the top beauty professionals in the industry these fast and simple beauty tips will instantly improve your appearance and correct some of today’s most common beauty problems.

To reduce the redness and shrink the size of a blemish – soak a cotton ball with visine. Place the cotton ball on blemish, hold it there for a minute. This will reduce the redness. Next apply a small drop of Preparation H to the blemish. This will shrink the blemish.

For longer lashes – use a small makeup brush to dust your lashes with face powder before applying mascara and between coats.

To minimize dark under eye circles – Before applying your foundation use an orange tone concealer mixed with your foundation to cover under eye circles. Apply foundation and set with face powder. Avoid using blue or purple eye shadows.

To instantly lighten eyebrows – rub a small dot of foundation through your eyebrow and gently brush eyebrows with an old toothbrush.

To disappear wrinkles – After applying your foundation use a thin small makeup brush to apply highlighter directly in the crease of the wrinkle, blend and set with face powder.

To whiten and brighten your teeth – use lip colors with blue undertones such as cool red, berries, burgundies and wines.

To refresh oily hair – sprinkle baby powder onto your hairbrush before brushing your hair.

To prevent bed hair – before going to bed comb a dime size drop of leave in conditioner through your hair.

To remove yellow discoloration on nails – soak nails in any over the counter denture cleanser for 5 to 10 minutes.

Eileen Hammel is a Nationally & Internationally Recognized Image, Style and Beauty Expert Ms.Hammel is President of Smarter Image, and Smart Skin Care - Smart Cosmetics by Smarter Image http://www.smartskincaresmartcosmetics.com/

1. For a natural look your foundation must match your skin tone. Test foundations along your jawline. You will know the best color because it will disappear into your skin.

2. Spread foundation on your hands and pat it on your face, then smooth out with a sponge making sure not to pull or stretch the skin. Be extra careful in the area around your eyes where the skin is super thin. Don’t forget to apply foundation on your eyelids and lips.

3. To make foundation last apply moisturizer first giving the foundation a base. Dry skin will soak up the foundation if not given that base. For oily skin use an oil-free moisturizer and powder foundation

4. On hot days foundation can be difficult to keep looking fresh. Set your foundation in the morning using a loose powder and puff, then do regular touch ups throughout the day.

5. To cover imperfections apply foundation first and then go back and dot on a concealer that neutralizes red. For noticeable imperfections like very dark circles and birthmarks use a yellow concealer (available from Mary Kay). Don’t use too much powder in problem areas because it will draw attention to it.

6. To avoid a foundation line around the jaw apply foundation as usual then use a little moisturizer in your hand and blend it down your neck.

7. For evening mix some shimmer powder with your powder and put it where you want to attract light such as the bridge of the nose, underneath the brow bone, the temples, cheekbone, chin and shoulders.

8. Always use a foundation with a sunscreen of at least 15 to prevent future sun damage.

9. Change your foundation shade if the color of your skin changes.

10. After you apply foundation go near a window to make sure it looks natural. Natural light is the ultimate test.

Copyright 2004 Sheila Dicks

Sheila Dicks is a wardrobe and image consultant who teaches women how to look slimmer by dressing to suit their body type. Visit her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download a copy of her e-book Image Makeovers and get How to Build a Wardrobe free.

Keeping skin nourished with plenty of water and exercise is more crucial than most people think. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day hydrates the skin and keeps it supple and moist. Water intake also minimizes those dreaded dark circles under the eyes.

Exercise stimulates the entire body and gets your blood flowing, making you glow. The better the circulation, the more nutrients go to the skin. Keeping skin clean is one of the simplest ways of caring for your skin. Wash your skin with tepid water and a mild facial cleanser. How many times a day should you wash your face? It depends on your skin type. Oily skin may need two or three washes a day, while dry skin should only be washed once or twice. Use a face cloth or a gentle facial scrub to help remove dead cells.

Wearing sunscreen when you go outdoors can counteract a lot of UVB damage, which contributes to the burning. Keep in mind that sunscreen does not protect against UVA damage. Some daily lotions have built-in sunscreen with a lower SPF and then there are lotions formulated for the sole purpose of protecting you from the sun with higher SPF. SPF (sun protection factors) are measured by timing how long skin covered with sunscreen takes to burn in comparison to uncovered skin. For example, SPF 30 means that while wearing sunscreen it will take 30 times longer to burn. Because protection from UVA rays is below satisfactory, sunscreen often offers a false sense of security because UVA rays are the more insidious of the two types of radiation that the sun emits.

Avoiding excessive sun altogether is the true meaning of sun protection.

Good sun protection methods include: staying in the shade between 11 am and 3 pm (peak sun strength hours), wearing protective clothing and a wide brimmed hat, wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from UV rays, knowing your skin’s limits and not allowing yourself to burn, applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more and, lastly, not relying on sunscreen as sun protection. In short, the best sun protection on the market is you.

Antioxidant creams can serve as great warriors in protecting the skin. There’s plenty of evidence suggesting that if you take vitamins orally, the sun still depletes them. A limited number of studies have reported that the skin can absorb certain antioxidants such as green tea and vitamin C, which can reduce oxidation. More studies are underway to prove this point more fully.

As we age, we produce less and less GLA, which is one of the most important fats our skin produces. Now, in order for nutrient-rich blood to enrich the skin, the body needs a special fat called GLA. The body has incredibly small amounts of this miracle fat, certainly not enough to help the skin carry out all of its necessary duties. It’s also hard to obtain GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) through our diets nowadays. This leaves our skin much more vulnerable to damage. GLA is not an easy thing to find. Aside from our hydrophobic barrier in our dermal zone where GLA is produced, the only other place GLA is available is in oatmeal.

Dr. Sears was able to find ways to implement GLA into an anti-aging skin care system that penetrates the layers of the skin. This way, when there are everyday attacks on the skin from UVA rays, dirt, bacteria, toxins in our water and normal aging problems from oxidation, there is enough GLA to counteract it.

Lori Matthews has done extensive research in the skin care industry and which ingredients actually penetrate the skin layer. Please visit Anti Aging Zone for more information

When it comes to favorite beauty spots, fashionistas everywhere have a definite preference. Whether it is your hair stylist, colorist, manicurist, or your favorite spa, these carefully guarded secrets should be shared with your best pals. Usually, the best way to find a fantastic beauty spot is to ask around. Word of mouth spreads reviews like wild fire, so do not be shy! Ask your friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers to find that spot that can help you become your best.

A hair stylist has a unique bond with his or her customers. Generally, you entrust one of the first things people see about you—your hair—to a complete stranger and keep your fingers crossed the cut looks right on you. Instead of hoping and praying your cut will look okay, do something about it! Bring in photographs or magazine clippings so your stylist knows exactly what you want. Before he or she ever picks up a pair of scissors, discuss this decision with the expert to see if your hair can accomplish the daring ‘do. You may need to try several different stylists to see who bests works with you, so consider asking for trims or reshaping cuts before you ask a stranger to go wild with your locks.

Usually, individuals stick to a specific beauty spot for all their beauty needs. Spas are popping up all over the country that offer hair cuts, waxing, massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, and skin treatments. By finding your specific beauty spot, you will be able to essentially do one stop shopping when it comes to you overall appearance. Instead of hunting for an individual to shape and wax your eyebrows, entrust your top notch beauty spot to find one for you!

Make your visits to your favorite beauty spot of choice a mini holiday. Instead of rushing through a hair cut or facial, plan several events and spend the afternoon in pampered bliss. Be sure you schedule enough time for each different task so that you will not be rushed through your day. Spa days are a great way to spend time with friends, family members, or children. Many moms bring their daughters along for a day of pampering and joy at their favorite beauty spot. This treat is a great way for mothers and daughters to spend quality time together while getting away from the stresses and distractions of everyday life.

Bridget Allen has worked for many years in the fashion industry, at a senior level, and she has written an amazing, totally free fashionista minicourse that will thrill, entertain, and most importantly educate you about what you absolutely need to know about fashion.
Get the free course " Fashionista Essentials" now. Click Fashionista Essentials now.